circulate

verb

cir·​cu·​late ˈsər-kyə-ˌlāt 

circulated; circulating

intransitive verb

1

: to move in a circle, circuit, or orbit

especially : to follow a course that returns to the starting point

blood circulates through the body

2

: to pass from person to person or place to place: such as

a

: to flow without obstruction

b

: to become well-known or widespread

rumors circulated through the town

c

: to go from group to group at a social gathering

d

: to come into the hands of readers

specifically : to become sold or distributed

transitive verb

: to cause to circulate

circulatable

ˈsər-kyə-ˌlā-tə-bəl 

adjective

circulative

ˈsər-kyə-ˌlā-tiv 

adjective

circulator

ˈsər-kyə-ˌlā-tər 

noun

Synonyms of circulate

• disseminate
• propagate
• spread

Examples of circulate in a Sentence

Blood circulates through the body.

Steam circulates in the pipes.

A pump circulates the water through the filter.

Rumors are circulating around town.

The report circulated among the students.

Stories were circulated about mismanagement.

He is circulating a petition asking for a new election.

She circulated among her guests.

Recent Examples on the Web

Kylian Mbappe was dropped on October 27 by two major brands in China after a video circulated online in which the French football star apparently joked about former leader Mao Zedong. — Matthew Tan, CNBC, 28 Oct. 2026

The first step was for members of the book committee to circulate a prospectus to their fellow survivors to explain the memorial project. — Jennifer Rich, The Conversation, 28 Oct. 2026

And in February 2025, the Japanese military discovered that some of its members had unknowingly circulated for over a year USB sticks that carried malware used by Chinese hacker groups. — Sam Mullins, Foreign Affairs, 28 Oct. 2026

Versions of the proposal had circulated through the Legislature for more than a decade, but were vetoed repeatedly by Govs. — Sacbee.com, 28 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin circulatus, past participle of circulare, from circulus

First Known Use

1603, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Rhymes for circulate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate
• angulate

Kids Definition

circulate

verb

cir·​cu·​late ˈsər-kyə-ˌlāt 

circulated; circulating

1

: to move or cause to move in a circle or course

especially : to follow a course that returns to the starting point

blood circulates through the body

2

: to pass or be passed from person to person or place to place

circulate a rumor

circulative

-ˌlāt-iv 

adjective

circulator

-ˌlāt-ər 

noun

Medical Definition

circulate

intransitive verb

cir·​cu·​late ˈsər-kyə-ˌlāt 

circulated; circulating

: to flow or be propelled naturally through a closed system of channels (as blood vessels)

blood circulates through the body